Swiss voters reject strict neutrality plan that would limit NATO ties and Russia sanctions

About 70% of voters and all cantons rejected an SVP-backed bid to write “perpetual and armed” neutrality into the constitution, barring military alliances, curbing NATO cooperation, and blocking sanctions on warring states unless the UN mandates them—including abandoning Russia sanctions. Critics say neutrality was already strained when Switzerland mirrored EU sanctions after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. SVP supporter Christoph Blocher reportedly spent 2 million francs on the campaign.